Born on 27 January 1928, Jean-Michel
Damase composes in a style often compared to Francis Poulenc, Maurice
Ravel, Serge Prokofiev, Albert Roussel, and Jacques Ibert; incorporating many of the
rhythmic and harmonic complexities associated with twentieth-century
French music. Throughout his career, Damase has remained a traditionalist,
"continuing the post-tonal line of Debussy and Ravel without the modish
interest in their deeper-seated implications."* Or, in the composers own
words, "I prefer sincerity to forced innovation." His music is
accessible without being lightweight; melodic, tonal, yet harmonically
complex, playful, respectful of tradition and form, and superbly
crafted.

In spite of his works’ obvious and readily
appreciated merits, too few are familiar with Jean-Michel Damase.
Because very little information is available about the
composer and his works, I created this site to assemble as much of it as
possible and share it with others.

My goal is to encourage those
who are not yet familiar with Damase to seek out his very rewarding music.
If you are fortunate enough to have enjoyed hearing or performing Damase’s
works, I hope I can provide some useful information about
discovering more.

"What remains as one of the minor mysteries of the last half-century of musical history is the fact that, for all the immediate attractiveness of his compositional voice, the work of Jean-Michel Damase has remained such a well-kept secret." Christopher Morley, from his programme notes for
Piano Music by Jean-Michel Damase

On this page

The Ecoensemble Trio(Morena Mestieri, flute; Paola Fundarò, oboe; Anna
Bellagamba, piano) have recorded the Trio for Flute, Oboe and Piano,included on their self-titled release for EurArte.
Founded in 1991, the award-winning ensemble include many rare
and neglected works in their repertoire. Their CD, with
additional works by Eugène Goossens, Gordon Jacob, Franco
Margola and Giordano Tunioli, can be purchased directly from EurArte.

In their May 2004 issue, BBC Music Magazine has awarded this recording«««««, its highest rating, in all
categories.
Mr Unwin and
Somm Recordings are to be congratulated for their tremendous
achievement! Here is an excerpt of the review:

"Though it might be dismissed by the snootier elements of the music
press - the music is resolutely tonal with conservative harmonies, is
attractive and immediately enjoyable - for me Damase is the most pleasurable
discovery since encountering Kapustin, elements of whose style he
shares."Jeremy Nicholas, BBC
Music Magazine, May 2004

Any devotee of Damase should make
this album a part of their music library. There is much to be learned in these
works and Mr Unwin's superb performances display a complete understanding
of them.

As the Library of
Congress does not have record of any prior recordings, it is likely that
most are world premieres.

Quite simply, this is the most important addition to the recorded
repertoire of Damase in over a decade. Please support the gifted composer,
the incredibly talented performer and brave record label,
Somm Recordings,
and purchase this CD.

Trio for Flute, Oboe and Piano has been released Boston Records by Amy
Porter, flute, Nancy-Ambrose King, oboe and Phillip Bush, piano. The
only known prior commercial release of this work was made in 1966 by
Jean-Pierre Rampal, flute, and Pierre Pierlot, oboe, with the composer at
piano.

USA International Harp Competition
(July 2004)
Bloomington, Indiana USAWhilst serving as a judge at the bi-annual USA International Harp
Competition, Monsieur Damase presented a lecture on French music, as well
as taught a Master
Class for Indiana University composition students.

The new production of L'Héritière by the
Marseille Opera (May 2004)
Marseille, France
To tremendous critical acclaim, the Opéra
Municipal de Marseille (France) presented a new production
of L'Héritière(The Heiress),
Damase's opera from 1974, with a libretto by Louis Decreux, after an adaptation by Ruth & Augustus
Goetz of Washington Square
by Henry James. Performances ran from 6-13 May 2004.
Event Coverage

Exclusive coverage of the pre-concert lecture by
André Peyregne, with the composer and Claude Melloni (creator of the
role of "Morris Townsend") as guests.
(Courtesy of Bernard A.M. Dreyer, French correspondent for Chez DAMASE)

Concert - Jean-Michel Damase (May 2004)
Marseille, FranceConservatoire National de Région de Marseille; Salle Zino Francescatti
Professors and students of the Marseille Conservatoire had the rare
opportunity to present a concert/examination recital in the presence of the
composer.

Paris premiere of the Concertino for Piano & String Orchestra
The Paris premiere of the Concertino for Piano & String Orchestra
took place 18, 24 & 29 January 2004 at the Salle Cortot
of the École Normale de Musique de Paris with the noted pianist,
Françoise Parrot-Hanlet, as soloist. Both the soloist and composer are on faculty at
the school and were able to collaborate extensively prior to the premiere.
The performances met with great success by critics and audiences alike. One
can only hope that this success will lead to more performances by Parrot-Hanlet
in the UK and Europe. Contact Mme Parrot-Hanlet by clicking on her name
above or here.

Françoise Parrot-Hanlet at the piano during the Paris
premiere of Damase's Concertino for Piano & String Orchestra

Parrot-Hanlet acknowledges the composer (seated in box on
the upper right)

Damase stands for the soloist and audience

Vancouver, B.C. Canada
12 April 2003, 8:00PM
St. Mark's Anglican Church Variations "Early Morning" Lorna McGhee, flute; Heidi Krutzen, harp
Ms McGhee is the former principal flute of the BBC Symphony; Ms Krutzen is
principal harp of the Vancouver Opera.
Recital will be recorded for future broadcast on CBC Radio.

New York, New York, USA
16 February 2003, 3:00PM
New York Philharmonic Chamber Music
Series, Merkin Concert Hall at Abraham Goodman
House, 129 West 67th StreetDix-sept Variations for Wind Quintet
Members of the New York Philharmonic perform this work as well as
the Fauré's Piano Quartet in g, Op 45, Schubert's String Trio in B-flat, D.
471 and Beethoven's Octet in E-flat, Op 103

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
4 December 2002, 8:00 PM
University of Michigan, Britton Recital
HallTrio for Flute, Oboe and PianoAmy Porter, flute; Nancy-Ambrose
King, oboe; Phillip Bush, piano
Performers include faculty members of the University of Michigan who have
also recorded this work for Boston Records.

Pinnacle Brass (Resident Brass Quintet at the University of Central
Arkansas) commissioned and premiered a new brass quintet by Damase, For
Five.
The American premiere was given 13 November 2002 at the UCA Snow Fine Arts
Center Recital Hall and the European premiere (also given by Pinnacle Brass)
during their tour of Paris on 26 November 2002 at the Woodwind &
Brasswind Music Store, with the composer in attendance.